How to Spot Symptoms of Kaposis Sarcoma

Kaposis Sarcoma is a condition that affects the tissues under the skin or the mucous membranes that are found in the nose, mouth or anus. The disease, which can be cancer or malignant, affects primarily older men that have had organ transplants. It is important to report any symptoms of Kaposis Sarcoma to your doctor as soon as possible to undergo full diagnosis and to get treatment if necessary. Read on to learn how to spot symptoms of Kaposis Sarcoma.

Instructions

• 1

  Know the risk factors of having symptoms including being male, over the age of 60, having had an organ transplant or being an African-American male. A combination of these factors, or any of the other symptoms of the disease may signal a more significant likelihood of developing the condition.

• 2

  See skin spots on your skin in any area that are brown, red or purple in color and round in shape. The coloring of these spots can change, and some will appear dark on people that have a dark skin complexion. The spots are commonly found on the arms, legs, and mouth, though they can be located anywhere.

• 3

  Determine if you have contracted the AIDS virus or are HIV positive. This is one of the most significant causes of Kaposis Sarcoma in individuals, though it is not always needed. Men from Africa are also more likely to contract the disease due to the prevalence of AIDS in the region.

• 4

  Check the lymph nodes. Tumors caused by the Kaposis Sarcoma disease are often found in the lymph nodes, which may appear to be swollen or tender.

• 5

  Spot these symptoms of Kaposis Sarcoma, but get diagnosed through your doctor's testing and physical exam. Testing will include HIV tests, Chlamydia tests, hepatitis tests, liver tests and hormone tests to rule out similar health conditions. Doctors will biopsy the tissue to determine if there is any sign of cancerous growth.